Forwarded by Jane Clark from:
Defenders of Wildlife
Rural Updates!
June 11, 2003

ACTION ALERT: TWO PESTICIDE SIGN-ON LETTERS
DEADLINE JUNE 12

Please take a moment to ask the EPA not to grant emergency
exemption for the use of the pesticide carbofuran on 2.4 million
acres of cotton in Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma. This chemical
is so toxic to birds, bees and other wildlife that the EPA placed
severe restrictions on its use in 1990. However, states have been
able to go about "business-as-usual" by applying for "emergency
exemptions" every year. Most of the time, the EPA grants these
exemptions, despite the fact that there is no evidence that cotton
yields drop in the years that the exemptions are not granted. Please
take a moment to visit www.saveourbirds.org and oppose the use
of carbofuran.  The deadline is June 12!

The Migrant Farmworker Justice Project in Florida is also seeking
individuals and organizations to sign on to a letter asking Congress not to
block the phase out of the toxic and ozone depleting chemical methyl
bromide. This chemical is used to sterilize soils prior to planting
tomato, strawberry, pepper, cucumber and other vegetable crops. It is highly
toxic to farmers, farm workers and anyone else in proximity to where it is
being used, and is also the most powerful ozone depleting chemical still in
widespread use. The deadline for signons is June 19. To receive a copy of
the letter, send an email to [log in to unmask]

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